Studies were conducted to determine the effects of scarification, temperature, osmotic potential, and pH on seed germination of buffalo gourd and to examine seedling emergence and establishment. Mechanical and chemical scarification did not increase germination compared to non-scarified seed. Seed germinated at constant temperatures in the dark from 15 to 37 C with optimum germination at 25 C. As osmotic potentials became more negative from −0.1 to −0.8 MPa, germination decreased from 77 to 53%. Germination increased from 15% at pH 2.2 to 90% at pH 8. Seedlings were able to emerge from depths as great as 12 cm, and plants younger than 19 d were not able to sprout from the roots when the shoots were removed.

Introduction. Cashew production has been on a decline due to poor yieldresulting from poor quality traits of open-pollinated seedling populations that were usedto establish plantations. Clones established from outstanding individuals throughair-layering root poorly and are not likely to survive transplanting, thus clonalpropagation by air-layering has been of little value for cashew propagation.Materials and method. To improve the rooting percentages of air-layering,three auxins (IBA, NAA and IAA) were applied at six concentrations [(0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)%] on four cashew genotypes. Results and discussion. Significantimprovement was recorded in terms of layer take, number of roots per layer, number of daysto rooting, length of roots and percentage of surviving clones after transplanting.Improvement varied between the different auxins, concentrations and genotypes. We observedthat degree of rooting was genotype-specific and influenced by auxin type and specificconcentration. Our data showed that, among the auxins tested, IBA was most effective, withoptimum performance at the 2% concentration. Conclusion. Using auxins made itpossible to significantly improve the rooting and survival of cashew propagules; however,to achieve sufficient rooting and better establishment after transplanting, auxintreatment should not exceed 3% concentration. This intervention would help alleviate theproblem of clonal establishment in cashew.

Introduction. This protocol describes a method for obtainingwell-established banana plants in the field, both for open-air and greenhouse cultivation,from hardened tissue culture nursery plants. The principle, starting material and timerequired are presented. Materials and methods. This part describes theprocess of land preparation, both in the case of planting and replanting, includingpreplant fertilizer requirements and irrigation recommendations, and the mainhorticultural practices appropriate both for planting out in the field and for the firstmonths after planting. Special attention is given to correct irrigation, a key issue inthe establishment process. Possible problem areas for troubleshooting are listed.Results. At the end of the process, vigorous plants with uniform growth andhigh yield potential are planted out and become optimally established in the commercialfield.

Direct sowing is the simplest method of plant establishment for restoration and remediation purposes, but relatively few plants can establish under high salinity conditions. In this study, the ability of different seashore plants and grass cultivars to germinate in different dilutions of seawater (0–400 mM NaCl) was tested. Highest germination was found in distilled water or seawater dilutions up to 100 mM NaCl. When seawater concentrations were increased from 100 to 200 mM NaCl, a strong decline in germination percentage and rate was observed in less salt-tolerant species, such as Matricaria maritima and Achillea millefolium. The more salt-tolerant species, Plantago maritima, Juncus gerardii, Artemisia vulgaris, Agrostis spp. and Rumex spp., had a threshold salinity, where germination was significantly decreased in seawater dilutions between 200 and 400 mM NaCl. Even among the salt-tolerant species, only two, Agrostis stolonifera and Artemisia vulgaris, germinated at 400 mM. Variation in salinity response was observed among populations of Artemisia vulgaris and among cultivars of Festuca spp. Increasing salinity to 200 mM NaCl delayed germination in most species. Ungerminated seeds of most salinity-tolerant species were still viable after 21 d at the highest salinity (400 mM), and showed a rapid and high germination when transferred to distilled water. These species would be able to survive high salinity and germinate when the salinity of the sediments decreases through dilution or leaching of salts. The experiment revealed species and cultivars that will be of interest in further testing for restoration and remediation in saline habitats.

Introduction.Detarium microcarpum est l'une des espèces fruitières locales les plus exploitées au Burkina Faso. Les mécanismes de sa régénération naturelle qui devraient orienter sa sylviculture restent cependant mal connus. Le travail présenté a été entrepris dans la forêt classée de Nazinon pour étudier les mécanismes d'installation et de développement de sa population. Matériel et méthodes. Un suivi diachronique de l'écophysiologie de la germination in situ des semences et de la structure des populations de D. microcarpum a été effectué sur trois types de sols caractéristiques de la région. Ce travail a été complété par une étude de la morphologie racinaire des plants. Par ailleurs, l'influence sur la régénération végétative des paramètres diamètres et hauteurs de la souche laissée au moment de la coupe a été évaluée. Résultats. Le fonctionnement des populations de D. microcarpum a permis de distinguer quatre stades de développement. L'espèce se régénère naturellement à la fois par graine et par voie végétative. Les jeunes plantules sont géophytes en saison sèche et survivent grâce à un pivot tubérisé. Un semis direct après la coupe n'est pas nécessaire parce que l'arbre produit de nombreuses graines aptes à développer une "banque de semis végétatifs " dans le sol et les souches ont une haute capacité de régénération végétative. La coupe de tiges de faible diamètre, effectuée à une hauteur élevée, permet la formation de davantage de rejets au-dessus du sol, mais le morceau de tronc restant peut favoriser la propagation du feu du tronc vers les rejets. En revanche, la coupe de tiges de fort diamètre au ras le sol garantit la formation d'un nombre maximal de drageons et de rejets issus du collet qui échappent facilement aux feux. Conclusion. La coupe au ras du sol est la meilleure méthode d'exploitation des populations de D. microcarpum ; elle doit donc être conseillée. Toutefois, certaines études complémentaires restent à faire pour mieux comprendre la régénération de l'espèce.

Introduction. Although several pineapple micropropagation protocols have already been published, significant improvement could be achieved if the stages of the in vitro culture were better defined. Our work concerned several experiments aiming at the mass production of high quality plantlets. Materials and methods. Axillary buds were inoculated on an MS liquid culture medium added with NAA (2 μM) and BAP (4 μM). Regenerated shoots, divided into three classes of different sizes, were then used in further experiments. First, these shoots were inoculated in flasks containing the same MS culture medium with or without growth regulators. Then, four basic media, containing different salts and free from growth regulators were tested. In a third assay, the MS culture medium was compared with a half-diluted MS culture medium for studying the plantlet elongation and rooting stage. Results. In the MS culture medium supplemented with NAA and BAP, the highest multiplication rate (13.5 shoots) was obtained with the smallest shoots inoculated, while in the MS culture medium free of growth regulators, the highest plantlets (7.7 cm) were the result of the highest shoots inoculated and showed no vitrification. The normal MS culture medium, in comparison with the half-diluted one and the three other salt formulations, revealed a significant increase in the plantlet elongation and best general features. For acclimatization, the highest values of the survival rate (93.8% ) and fresh and dry weights were obtained with the transference of higher than 7.0 cm in vitro plantlets. Conclusion. Using the protocol described in this work, it is possible to obtain 1 million in vitro plantlets after 9 months from a single bud, with a 45 day subculture interval and an average multiplication rate of 10 shoots per bud.